Artwork
Self Portrait
Self Portrait is an oil painting by Samuel Laurence. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
Samuel Laurence’s self‑portrait, executed in oil in 1836, is part of the Ashmolean Museum’s collection. The work presents the artist himself, rendered with a focus on facial detail against a uniform dark backdrop, emphasizing the sitter’s introspective demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows a man with short, curly brown hair, dressed in a dark high‑collared jacket and a white ruffled shirt. His gaze is directed downward, suggesting contemplation or inner reflection, while his serious expression reinforces a mood of quiet thoughtfulness.
Technique & Style
Laurence employs a restrained palette and careful modeling of light and shadow to define the facial features, a practice reminiscent of chiaroscuro techniques. The solid dark background isolates the figure, allowing subtle tonal variations to convey volume and texture.
History & Provenance
Created in 1836, the painting has remained within the public domain of the Ashmolean Museum, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of 19th‑century British portraiture.
Artist & collection
Portrait of a Young Man
Portrait of a Young Man
Thomas Girtin
Portrait of Michael Banim (1796-1874), Author
Frederick Yeates Hurlstone (1800–1869)
Self-portrait
Self-portrait
John Constable (1776–1837), RA, at the Age of 20
Dr John Camidge
Portrait of a Man (possibly Alexander Boyd)
Samuel Woodburn
Unknown man